\Gal"lant\, a. [F. gallant, prop. p. pr. of OF. galer to
rejoice, akin to OF. gale amusement, It. gala ornament; of
German origin; cf. OHG. geil merry, luxuriant, wanton, G.
geil lascivious, akin to AS. g?l wanton, wicked, OS. g?l
merry, Goth. gailjan to make to rejoice, or perh. akin to E.
weal. See {Gala}, {Galloon}.]
1. Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.
         The town is built in a very gallant place. --Evelyn.
         Our royal, good and gallant ship.     --Shak.
2. Noble in bearing or spirit; brave; high-spirited;
   courageous; heroic; magnanimous; as, a gallant youth; a
   gallant officer.
         That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds. --Shak.
         The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.
                                               --Waller.
Syn: {Gallant}, {Courageous}, {Brave}.
Usage: Courageous is generic, denoting an inward spirit which
       rises above fear; brave is more outward, marking a
       spirit which braves or defies danger; gallant rises
       still higher, denoting bravery on extraordinary
       occasions in a spirit of adventure. A courageous man
       is ready for battle; a brave man courts it; a gallant
       man dashes into the midst of the conflict.

\Gal*lant"\ (?; 277), a.
Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women;
chivalrous.

\Gal*lant"\ (?; 277), n.
1. A man of mettle or spirit; a gay; fashionable man; a young
   blood. --Shak.
2. One fond of paying attention to ladies.
3. One who wooes; a lover; a suitor; in a bad sense, a
   seducer. --Addison.
Note: In the first sense it is by some ortho["e]pists (as in
      Shakespeare) accented on the first syllable.

\Gal*lant"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Gallanted}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Gallanting}.]
1. To attend or wait on, as a lady; as, to gallant ladies to
   the play.
2. To handle with grace or in a modish manner; as, to gallant
   a fan. [Obs.] --Addison.